May 26, 1894.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



43B 



Interior Arrangement and Decoration. 



OT a little strange, con- 

 sidering the lavish ex- 

 penditure on all parts 

 of the modern yacht, is 

 the fact that the import- 

 ant work of interior fit- 

 ting and decoration is 

 often conspicuous only 

 as a failure. Go on 

 hoard of any of our 

 large and handsome 

 yachts, and the first 

 thing that greets one on 

 going helow is a forest 

 of mahogany, divided 

 into rails, stiles and 

 panels; In fact, the same 

 painful monotony exists 

 from stem to stern, and 

 whenever the builder 

 has an opportunity to escape the owner's vigilance he will put a 

 drawer or a locker almost everywhere, most of which serve no ruber 

 purpose than an excuse for the accumulation of dampness and dis- 

 comfort. An experience of this bind some time ago aided me to fully 

 illustrate this fact. It was a change the owner desired in his state- 

 room; the space was about 6x8ft , on the starboard side, and in one 

 of our large sloops, and contained, besides the thorough bewilder- 

 ment of panels, a bed 3ft. Gin.XOft. Bio., and a mirror, a case of 

 drawers extending from the face of cabin trunk into the side from 

 floor to deck. The bed in so small a space was naturally a very incon- 

 venient piece of furniture. He seemed to fancy the drawers very 

 much, but upon opening them and putting his hand down to the bot- 

 tom of one, he pulled out a numher of corks and other rubbish which 

 had been lying there-no one knows how long. The desired result was 

 now at hand. Their removal was suggested, and in their place a con- 

 tinuation of the wainscot, which was arranged so as to lower, giving 

 giving him a folding bed 6ft Bin.xSft. 6in,— more than double the 

 width of bis former bed— out of the way, and still leaving ample space 

 for a small washstand at the after end. 



At the conclusion of the job, after practical tests of this new ar- 

 rangement, the owner pronounced it a success, and in more than one 

 way felt that it repaid for the loss of drawers. 



The cause of this lack of taste aboard ship is mainly that the ship 

 joiner is considered fully competent to take entire care of that end of 

 the business. Give him a pocket full of nails, a sufficient amount of 

 mahogany and a suggestion and he will do the rest in a way of which 

 we have already ample evidence. He should no more be permitted to 

 experiment with this very important subject than our ordinary house 

 carpenter should he allowed to dabble with the decoration and scheme 

 In treating a Louis Seize salon, a Renaissance dining-room or a 

 Moorish den. Heaven save the mark, but we have fortunately 

 advanced sufficiently in house decoration to leave the suggestions 

 and prehminr.ry details to an architect or skilled designer. "This is 

 an age of specialties." 



As an example of the proper plan, view the transatlantic, liners, 

 especially those of the North German Lloyd Co., the French liners or 

 the English racers. The display of art. in their treatment is simply 

 gorgeous. There the interior artist has really kept pace with the 

 naval architect, and between the two they have succeeded in produc- 

 ing a triumph of harmony and refinement. 



The progress ashore has been far in advance of that afloat. What 

 better accommodations or pleasanter surroundings could one desire 

 than on a train made up of Pullman coaches, parlor, dining room, 

 buffet, sleeping and smoking cars, each one to suit the hour of the 

 day. 



Even our saloons and cafes are fitted up with some pretense of 

 pleasing the eye and many of them suggest the employment of the 

 best Bkill at hand. It is all simply the influence of art upon the 

 advance of time. 



Although the marine architecture of to-day has reached a high state 

 of perfection as to hull and equipment, the interiors' on the contrary, 

 show little improvement on the past. 



Mr. W. K Vanderbilt's new yacht Valiant is an excellent example to 

 the contrary, as the Parisian firm intrusted with the decoration of the 

 Valiant's interior have succeeded in bringing out to the best advantage 

 all the beauty and loveliness possible, in wisely using classic styles 

 and treating the sbip in general with an effect of taste and refinement 

 seldom seen in any of our large yachts. 



The accompanying sketch illustrates a salon in a steam yacht of 

 large tonnage, and gives an idea of what can be done in this way. The 

 style is that of Louis XV , treated very simply in enamel and gold, 

 An alcove, formed by two piers, serves as a locker and bath-room, 

 entered forward and aft of the salon. The relief decoration is papier 

 maehe, delicately tinted, and touched here and there with a dash of 

 gold, so as to relieve the cold surrounding ground. The frieze is 

 arranged to embrace a row of electroliers, with ornamention, there 

 being twenty-four electric globes in all. The remaining wall spaces 

 are covered with tapestry, ornamented with delicate garlands and 

 traceries of flowers interlacing ribbons and musical symbols. 



The skylight is in translucent leaded glass, giving an impression of 

 height and repose. By the use of color to attain this effect, it is not 

 necessary to use costly woods: and material of very light weight can 

 be introduced with good results; and weight is a very important 

 factor these days; by the liberal use of papier m ache, which is very 

 light, durable and strong, and inexpensive wood, the gain is twofold. 



So much for the big fellows, but it is not well to forget the little 

 ones— Corinthians and singlehanders. They, too, require some atten- 

 tion, and for them a suggestion is introduced here which may help to 

 serve their purpose. Fig. 2 illustrates the cabin of a boat say from 30 

 to 30ft, waterline. The space of course is limited, but by removing the 

 usual locker under the cockpit floor and extending the bunks almost aft 



SALON OF LARGE STEAM YACHT LOUIS XV. STYLE. Designed by W. 0. Leiber. 



to the arch board, one will find how much larger the cabin will be in 

 appearance and actual room. This interior is treated in Romanesque. 

 The wood Used in the construction is simply white pine, natural 

 finish, and decorated with silver stenciling. The cushions are covered 

 with a dark green velour, there is a woven wire rack under the deck 

 for such small things as hats and umbrellas, a little Persian rug on the 

 floor, and the result will be an effect of comfort and cosiness second 

 only to your private den. 



What' is more pleasant than to lounge amid surroundings treated 

 with a thought to human nature? How often has one gone below to 

 pass the night or seek refuge from a howling gale and rolling sea, with 

 nothing to comfort but a merciless bunk, a tongue-and grooved cabin, 

 with a few rags hung over the port lights suggesting curtains, when 

 the employment of cheap and simple materials, arranged with judg- 

 ment and good taste, would change the whole interior into a pleasant 

 home. W. C. Leiber. 



The Webb Academy and Home. 



The position which the gr°at port of New York now holds in the 

 shipbuilding of the world is so small and insigniflcent that the 

 younger generation is almost ignoraut of the fact that for the first 

 half of the present century this city was well nigh at the head in naval 

 construction : its numerous yards along the East River turning out 

 the very highest class of work in all branches, war ships, clippers, 

 pilot boats, ocean steamers, river and sound steamers and yachts. 

 Not a vestige of these great yards now remains, and of the great 

 builders, Eckford, Bergh, Steers, Lawrence, Bell, Brown, Dimon, 

 Collyer, Westervelt and others, who made the fame of New York 

 nearly a century ago and upheld it until the war of the Rebellion, but 

 one is left. Isaac Webb was born in Stamford, Conn., in 1794, the son 

 of a ship carpenter iu the yard of Henry Eck'ord, where the son in 

 time served the long and hard apprenticeship of those days, and 

 finally established a yard of his own, his reputation for good work 

 being only equalled by that for honesty and integrity. William H. 

 Webb was born in 1816, in New York, and entered his apprenticeship 

 in his father's yard when 15 years old. On the death of Isaac Webb, 

 in 1840, W. H. Webb succeeded to the business, and from the con- 

 struction of the smaller sailing ships, gradually worked upward to 

 ocean steamships and clippers, and then to such famous war ships as 

 the General, Admiral and Dunclerberg, 



In the thirty years which have passed since the closing of his ship- 

 yard, Mr. Webb has resided in New York, engaged in business pursuits 

 and enjoying the fortune acquired in youth and middle age. Though 

 shipbuilding has become a thing of Che past, his interest in all that 

 pertains to it has remained, keen and fresh, and above all his first 

 thought as been for his fellow-craftsmen, old and young. The last 

 great scheme of his life is in every way worthy of this typical old 

 time mechanic and business man; and must make the most noble and 

 fitting monument of his successful career. The scheme, conceived by 

 him some years since, included the construction and endowment of an 

 institution which should provide a free home for aged shipbuilders 

 and their wives, or for widows of dead builders; and iu addition, 

 should provide a school of instruction in practical desiguing and ship 

 construction and marine engineering, for deserving young men. To 

 this end Mr. Webb has devoted much time, and a sum of nearly half 

 a million dollars. 



The home is located in a oommanding position on Fordham Heights, 

 just above the Harlem River, a large building of stone and brick fully 

 fitted for the comfortable bousing of sixty occupants in the south 



INTERIOR _OF .SMALL CUTTER IN ..ROMANESQUE. Dsbigned by W, C.J(Leibee, 



end, while in the north end are the quarters for the sixty students, 

 who will be lodged and boarded while at the school. The buildings 

 were practically completed last fall, and there have been a few old 

 shipbuilders and eight students installed for some time; but the for- 

 mal dedication only took place on May 5. Some 300 visitors were 

 present, including many who are eminent in ship and engine building, 

 and many old mechanics. 



The services were conducted by Bishop Henry C. Potter, who in- 

 voked a blessing after the Lord's Prayer had been said and the 

 Doxology sung. Mr. Webb then made the presentation address to the 

 trustees, which was responded to by Mr. Stevenson Taylor. Ad- 

 dresses were then made by Bishop Potter, Robert Collyer and Joseph 



H. Choate. George F. Roesch then presented an American flag made 

 by the daughters of former employees of Mr. Webb; and Wm. H. 

 Helme, an old employee, presented Mr. Webb a series of resolutions 

 in eulogy of his beneficent action. 



The officers of the Webb Home are Wm. H. Webb, Pres.; Stevenson 

 Taylor, Vice-Pres. , Tbos. F. Rowland, Treas., Stephen M. Wright, 

 Sec, Cbas L. Smith, Albert G. Bogert, Fred. R. Hutton, Merrett 

 Trimble, Henry Steers, Andrew Reed, Cbas. H. Cramp, Thos. S. Marvel. 



The home is in charge of Andrew Reed and Mrs. Alice Howard 

 Hilton. Professor Jansen is the instructor in naval architecture, and 

 Thos. Main, M. E. , will have charge of the department of marine 

 engineering. 



Minnetonka Y. C. 



These is every indication now that the Minnetonka Y. C. is to have 

 the busiest and most interesting season in its history. There will be 

 at least 20 new sloops afloat when the flotilla turns out for its Annual 

 cruise on Decoration day, and some of these new craft are well 

 worthy, though of local design and construction, to rank with any of 

 the famous products of Eastern yards. Jim Stack is still keeping 

 ominously quiet about the new boat Herreshoff is building for him, 

 and nothing can be discovered about the original plan upon which she 

 is said to have been put up. A local yachtsman of fame, both as an 

 owner and sailor, said yesterday that he had heard the Stack boat was 

 to be a perfection of the Onawa idea. Herreshoff is said to be build- 

 ing this canoe-like craft on an exaggerated Onawa plan, the intention 

 being to outdo anything that floats on western waters. It may be 

 mentioned though, that it was Herreshoff who last season built the 

 Kite for the express purpose of lowering Alpha's colors, and that the 

 result was unsatisfactory. If this flyer justifies the rumored descrip- 

 tion of her, there is a probability that Mr. Burton will trot out the 

 white-hulled wraith of Deephaven and give her a run for the honors. 



The latest news is that Arthur Dyer is' at work on a first class sloop 

 for the Walkers, and that she, like the rest of the boats launched and 

 to be launched this year, will be the long fore and aft overhang type. 

 Dyer admits that he has the order, but is not willing to say just at 

 present what the boat will be like. 



Brackett's new sloop, that had such a curious experience on her first 

 cruise, is going to prove a wonderfully fast sailer, judging from the 

 way she went before her ballast sunk her. The boat looks very hand- 

 some in the water, and carries her sail well, but she will have to be 

 tried out a few times before smooth running can be expected. Per- 

 haps the prettiest of the new boats is the mahogany-hulled first class 

 sloop built by Peterson for Prof. Cross. She will be about the hand- 

 somest craft on the lake, with the possible exception of the Kite Mr. 

 Peet is having the last-named flyer sand-papered and varnished, and 

 she will go afloat in a few days looking as bright as a new dollar. So 

 far as is known now her owners have been unable to decide on any 

 change in the sail plan, though it is recognized that she is a good deal 

 handicapped by the rules. 



The new first class sloop being built by Mr. Long is going along 

 nicely, and the outlook is that she will be ready for launching by June 



I, Peterson, who has just finished up the Wilson boat, expects to send 

 her out to the lake to-day. This is a second class sloop of very neat 

 lines and the understanding is that Mr. Wilson intends calling her The 

 Hawk. 



Alpha is getting a new rig preparatory to opening the season under 

 more favorable circumstances than those of last year. The first race 

 of the regular series will be held on or about June 16.— Minneapolis 

 Journal. 



Rights of a Racing Yacht. 



On last Labor Day the yachts Violet and Exile came into collision, 

 and the owner of the latter preferred charges against the owner of 

 the former. The respective clubs In which the boats were owned had 

 a series of communications, which resulted in the selection of Mr. 

 Thomas Dean as referee. The choice of this practical yachtsman was 

 a happy one, and both parties to the dispute appeared before him. 

 The charge, that the Violet intentionally collided was withdrawn, and 

 this was only just to the owner of the Violet, who would be the last 

 man to do such a thing. 



On the question of collision, Mr. Dean sets up a decision which 

 should last for nil time. The Exile was in the race, while the Violet 

 was sailing off and on about the course. By the rules of the road the 

 Violet no doubt had a right to sail in the water, as the Exile had then 

 no rights superior to hers. What applies to merchant vessels, so far 

 as racing goes, can hardly apply to yachts, and on the question as to 

 which yacht was right under the circumstances, Mr. Dean took broad 

 ground and decided that where yachts are in the same waters, one 

 racing and the other not, the yacht racing has the right of way, and 

 the other yacht must keep off the course. 



This is common sense, and non-racing yachts should keep off the 

 course. Mr. Dean's decision is most satisfactory to all, and a love 

 feast is soon to be held between the owners and crews of the Violet 

 and Exile. 



The owners of non-racing yachts should bear this decision in mind 

 during the opening regatta of the South Boston Y. C on Decoration 

 Day. 



Mr. Thomas Dean has for 27 years been the honored secretary of 

 the Boston Y. C. — Boston Herald 



Brooklyn Y. C. 



The annual spring regatta of the Brooklyn Y'. C. will be held Mon- 

 day, June 4, over the club courses, starting in Gravesend Bay, at 11:30 

 A.M. The following clubs have been invited to compete: Atlantic 

 Y. C, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Columbia Y C, New York; Canarsie Y. C, 

 Caoarsie, L. I.; Corinthian of New York: Gravesend Bay Y. C, Ben- 

 sonhurst, L. I.; Great South Bay Y. C. ; Indian Harbor Y. C, Green- 

 wich, Conn.; Jamaica Bay Y. C; Knickerbocker Y. C, College Point, 

 L. I.; Larchmont Y. C, Larchmont; Marine and Field Club, Bath 

 Beach, L. I. ; New York Y. C. New York ; New Jersey Y C. Hoboken, 

 N. J.; New Rochelle Y. C, New Rocbelle, N. Y.; New Haven Y. C, 

 New Haven, Conn.; Pavonia Y. C, Jersey City, N. J.; Riverside Y. 0., 

 Riverside, Conn.; Shrewsbury Y. C, Red Bank, N.J. ; Seawanhaka 

 Corinthian Y. C, Oyster Bay; Yonkers Corinthian Y. C, Yonkers, 

 S. Y. 



The iron steamboat Cygnus will accompany the yachts over the 

 course, leaving Pier 1, North River, N. Y.. 9:12 A. M. ; Bridge Dock, 

 Brooklyn, 10 A M.; "Captains' Pier," Bath Beach, 11 A. M. ; returning 

 landing at same places. 



Information as to courses, classes, etc., may be had of Louis Wun- 

 der, chairman of regatta committee, Box 154, Brooklyn. 



